Page 31 - Embou-Sure Book Series

I should also mention here that tongue placement in beginning a note with the tongue, we simply say, “TOH.” When we say this sound, the tip of the tongue hits behind the top front teeth. Never allow a student to tongue through the teeth as it always causes a sloppy, thick attack. I have heard teachers describe the act by telling the student to “spit out a seed.” Nothing could be further from the correct method of tonguing. Simply tell the student to say “TOH.”
With a basic understanding of these two concepts, we are now ready to move to the tuba itself and prepare to play the first note.
FORMING THE EMBOUCHURE
If possible have an embouchure visualizer or mouthpiece ring available to aid in forming the embouchure. This will make it easy for you to see what is tak- ing place inside the mouthpiece area. Ask the student to place the mouthpiece ring on his lips and say, “OH” and then gradually change to an “OO” sound This will form the lips into the correct position.
Now have the student grasp a small tube or pen (about 1/8” in diameter) in the center of the lips. This will cause the lips to tighten toward a central point and will also bring the corners of the mouth to a firm set.
Remember: “OH-OO-SQUEEZE THE TUBE WITH THE LIPS.” Once you have gone through this procedure carefully, the student is ready to make the first sound on the tuba.
THE FIRST TONE
Ask the student to take a deep breath, completely filling the lungs with air. This sounds awfully basic in nature, but it is amazing to me how many stu- dents prepare to play tuba by taking a very quick, shallow breath.. .air can not be blown out which has not first been taken in.
So, have the student gulp air with the same feeling in the throat as when yawning. This opens the throat and permits the student to take in large quan- tities of air in a very short period of time. There should not be a hissing sound as the student inhales, for this indicates that the tongue is arched up near the roof of the mouth. Furthermore, if the tongue is arched during inhalation, it will likely remain there during exhalation.
Now ask the student to put the tuba in position with the mouthpiece near the
lips. With the young student, instruct him to place the mouthpiece so that half is on the top lip and the other half on the bottom lip. This is not the most de- sirable mouthpiece position but about all that will be physically possible with small children. Ideally, the mouthpiece placement should be 2/3 on the top lip and 1/3 on the bottom lip.
Now, take a deep breath, re-form the embouchure (“OH-OO-SQUEEZE THE TUBE”) and blow, expelling the air as rapidly as possible.
#1-CORRECT RESULT More often than not a reasonable tone will result. The particular note produced is not important at this point. The student will generally produce a second line B-flat or the F directly below the staff. Let the student center whichever note comes naturally.
SOUND EXAMPLE #1
#2-NO TONE, RUSHING AIR In this instance, there are two possible
causes:
b. Air stream restricted by closed throat and/or raised tongue.
a. Embouchure not formed tightly enough. SOUND EXAMPLE #2
REMEDY: Re-form the embouchure (“OH-OO-SQUEEZE”) and tell the student to grip more tightly on the imaginary “tube in the center of the lips.” Also stress the importance of saying “OH” to keep the throat open and the tongue down.
#3-THIN, PINCHED TONE This sound: SOUND EXAMPLE #3
is caused by a combination of the following:
a. Embouchure formed too tightly; lips pinched together. b. Insufficient volume of air passing between the lips.
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